While the Oscars are all about classic glamour, and the Met Gala is known for daring, trend-focused looks, the Cannes Film Festival has always been an opportunity for actors and supermodels alike to embrace the effortlessly chic beauty look associated with the south of France. (Think boho braids, bold lips or an embellished hairpiece.) Here, a closer look at the most iconic Cannes Film Festival beauty looks of all time, from Grace Kelly and Sophia Loren’s elegant updos, Jane Birkin and Farrah Fawcett’s natural waves to Blake Lively’s fishtail braid, Lily-Rose Depp’s golden cat eye, and Kirsten Dunst’s floral headband.
Classic beauty Grace Kelly posed at the 1955 Cannes Film Festival while wearing an elegant updo with a natural lip.
Rocking her infamous bangs in an elevated fashion, Brigitte Bardot wore a tousled up do with blunt bangs and subtle cat eye in 1955.
Marilyn Monroe arrived to the film festival in 1955 wearing her signature blonde locks in polished curls with a bold red lip.
Elizabeth Taylor posed with Mike Todd wearing an embellished headband on top of her tousled brunette curls at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival.
In 1964, actor Catherine Deneuve wore her hair in a voluminous half up do look tied with a classic black ribbon.
Beauty icon Sophia Loren wore her brunette locks in a sophisticated updo with an ultra sleek cat eye that paired perfectly with her Van Cleef and Arpels jewels in 1966.
Jane Birkin looked effortlessly cool and chic in 1974, wearing her hair in natural waves with tousled bangs.
In 1978, Farrah Fawcett wore her iconic blonde waves and tousled bangs with a sheer gloss on the lips.
In 1978, Princess Diana looked stunning in an ice blue dress, with rosy cheeks, and a pop of navy eyeliner along the inner rim of the eye.
Pop icon Madonna wore her sleek black locks in a polished updo with bold brows and a satin burgundy red lip in 1991.
Fashion’s ultimate muse Kate Moss let her natural beauty shine by keeping her hair pulled back in a simple updo and putting a pinch of blush on her cheekbones.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell looked radiant with luminous skin, a glossy plum lip and sleek, blunt bangs at the Gangs of New York premiere in 2002.
With perfectly blown out locks, a light cream contour on the cheekbones, and a glossy berry lip, Indian actor Aishwarya Rai stunned on the red carpet in 2002.
Angelina Jolie proved how to do an effortless half updo with loose curls framing her face and a subtle, grey smoky eye in 2007.
Oscar-winning actor and reigning queen of Cannes Marion Cotillard perfectly embodied French girl beauty, wearing her hair in a tousled up do with a bold coral red lip in 2010.
In 2011, American actor Rachel McAdams wore her platinum curls in a voluminous, teased style with a satin cranberry red lip.
Kirsten Dunst rocked a Boho glam updo with twisted French braids topped with a floral headband during the On The Road photo call in 2012.
French beauty Lea Seydoux wore her hair in a sleek, middle-parted low bun with a slightly smudged grey smoky eye, and nude pink lip in 2013.
Model Cara Delevingne rocked the ultimate Hollywood look with side swept curls, a bold smoky eye, and a glossy coral red lip in 2013.
Freida Pinto kept it simple, yet chic with a sleek, side-parted low pony with a dark brown smoky eye in 2014.
A Cannes regular, Blake Lively elevated the modern updo with a tousled fishtail braid and subtle smoky eye in 2014.
Sienna Miller posed at the Le Glace Et Le Ciel premiere wearing twisted braids, middle-parted, with a matte nude lip in 2015.
Lupita Nyong’o wore her hair in a regal updo with an embellished head piece and a glossy, magenta lip at the La Tete Haute premiere in 2015.
The then 17-year-old Lily-Rose Depp wore her wavy hair in an effortlessly messy half updo with a golden cat eye and nude lip in 2016.
In 2016, actor Kristen Stewart wore a sultry smoky eye with a bold red lip that paired perfectly with her messy, edgy platinum-colored bob.
American beauty Elle Fanning brought old Hollywood glamour, and a hint of princess magic, to Cannes in 2019.
Bella Hadid smoldered on the 2022 red carpet in a dewy, sun-kissed makeup look, tousled black locks, and a matte nude lip.
Acting legend Helen Mirren unveiled an ocean blue dye job on the 2023 red carpet.
In 2024, Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh switched her usual look in favor of dark brunette curtain bangs.
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